{"id":8975,"date":"2026-04-08T15:46:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T13:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/noplasticfilter.org\/?p=8975"},"modified":"2026-04-08T15:47:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T13:47:56","slug":"massive-call-for-filter-ban-in-evaluation-of-single-use-plastics-directive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/noplasticfilter.org\/de\/massive-call-for-filter-ban-in-evaluation-of-single-use-plastics-directive\/","title":{"rendered":"Massive call for filter ban in evaluation of Single-Use Plastics Directive"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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And just like that, the open consultation for the evaluation of the <\/strong>Single-Use Plastic Directive<\/strong><\/a> (SUPD) of the European Union has closed\u2014and what a consultation it was! There is no doubt that cigarette filters are firmly placed on the agenda for the 2027 revision! Out of 531 total submissions, 186 mentioned cigarette filters. Even more impressive, 137 respondents from 15 different countries voiced their support for stricter regulations or explicitly called for a ban on cigarette filters. These are astonishing results that simply cannot be ignored in the current evaluation process.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EU Single-Use Plastic Directive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Single-Use Plastic Directive (SUPD) was launched in 2019 to tackle the ten most littered items in Europe. At that time, politicians dismissed<\/a> a ban on cigarette filters as a bridge too far, despite being the most frequently found items in European litter<\/a>. For the 2026-2027 revision, however, our mission is clear: we have to convince the European Commission that the time for slow-motion change has passed and more decisive measures are required. With a growing body of research since 2019 that unanimously highlight the severe environmental and health impacts of filters<\/a>, the case for a ban is undeniable, and now is the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The European Commission\u2019s revision protocol ensures that everyone affected by a directive can have their say. This allows businesses, governments, NGOs, and\u2014crucially\u2014 EU and non-EU citizens to provide direct feedback on the existing framework and shape the update. This process ensures that all stakeholders have a voice, helping to create a directive that is as robust and effective as the current environmental crisis demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bottom-up campaign <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Het Peukenmeisje<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strong call for a ban on cigarette filters was mostly the result of a campaign of Bernadette Hakken, better known as Het Peukenmeisje<\/a> (or Ms. Cigarette Butt). Local cigarette filter hero Bernadette activated worried citizens (mostly litterpickers) across Europe to share their experiences with cigarette filters with the European Commission. No better judges of the problem and the solution than those being confronted with the pollution on a daily basis. Bernadette is part of the Dutch Plastic Peuken Collectief, together with Plandelman<\/a>, Zwerfie Rotterdam<\/a>, GoClean<\/a> and Stichting De Noordzee<\/a>, a strong alliance of litterpickers and NGOs generating growing support for a filter ban in the Netherlands and abroad<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No (Plastic) Filter<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to Bernadette\u2019s work, we launched our own campaign to stimulate citizens to share their concerns with the European Commission. By providing guides<\/a>, clear calls to action, and an explanatory video,<\/a> we lowered the threshold for our supporters to provide input for the evaluation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, we also provided input ourselves, together with our partners from European environmental and health organisations, for both the so-called Call for Evidence (open text<\/a>) and the Public Consultation (questionnaire<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tobacco industry influence <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While over a hundred EU citizens explicitly called for a ban on cigarette filters, we noticed a striking trend: a remarkably high number of submissions (over 20) came from German citizens who urged the European Commission not<\/em> to classify cellulose acetate as a plastic under the SUPD. Cellulose acetate is a bio-based plastic used in almost all cigarette filters; it does not easily biodegrade, rather it falls apart in tiny fibres (microplastics) and this is exactly why the impact of the filters persist in the environment. Is this strange focus on cellulose acetate a coincidence? Perhaps not. We were able to link 9 of these submissions directly to employees of one of the largest cellulose acetate producers in the world, to a large extent located in Germany. Another 8 contributions were submitted anonymously but with the same content as those of the Cerdia employees. Read more about this phenomenon in our next article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s next for the SUPD?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Moving forward, the European Commission will continue to consult relevant stakeholders to further evaluate the effectiveness of the current SUPD. We are proud to share that No (Plastic) Filter has been officially included in the list of stakeholders for this evaluation. Following this process, the Commission will submit a formal proposal for the legislative revision to the European Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The evaluation and revision of the SUPD<\/a> are expected to span 2026 and 2027:<\/p>\n\n\n\n